As he battles to be declared fit to face Leicester in Saturday’s Aviva Premiership semi-final, Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor has received a boost from his club captain.

England international Launchbury, whose stellar season was reflected in his nomination for the Aviva Premiership’s player-of-the-season award, is full of admiration for Taylor’s impact since his arrival at the Ricoh from Sale Sharks last summer.

“Tommy has been one of the best signings we’ve made in a long time,” he said.

“Of course, there’s been other great players, and they deservedly get a lot of plaudits but Tommy’s come in and been fantastic for us.

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“He carries a lot and is very good both in defence, and in the nuts and bolts of the set-piece. What he’s brought into that area is experience, throwing accuracy and scrummaging ability, all of which has really brought us on.

Launchbury notes that Taylor’s scrum power is something his front row colleagues regularly comment on, despite his relative lack of physical size compared with the likes of Saracens’ Jamie George or his Wasps colleague Ashley Johnson.

“The props talk very highly of him in terms of scrummaging ability,” the 26-year-old second row observed.

Wasps' Tommy Taylor breaks through the Sale defence during the Aviva Premiership match at the AJ Bell Stadium, Sale. (Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

“He’s been fantastic this year and has galvanised the pack. He does a lot of work that people don’t see and is a great, dynamic player for us.”

Launchbury also reserved praise for flanker Thomas Young , who turned in a man-of-the-match performance in Wasps’ 35-15 victory over Saracens on the final day of the regular season.

“The growth we’ve seen in Thomas has been huge and he’s a very clever rugby player,” Wasps’ skipper said.

“It’s been mentioned before that George Smith had a great impact on him last year. Thomas reads the game extremely well and is a great link for us.

Wasps and other Aviva Premiership clubs to face tougher European Cup challenge

European Champions Cup life will soon get harder for Wasps and other Premiership outfits in the elite level competition.

This follows the news that governing body EPCR have changed the qualification rules, and as a result Italian clubs, who historically have been whipping boys at the top table, are no longer guaranteed a place.

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Wasps' Dai Young claims the Aviva Premiership rugby director award

Dai Young and Jimmy Gopperth with their Aviva Premiership 2016/17 awards

Dai Young topped off an incredible night for Wasps at the Aviva Premiership awards when he was named director of rugby of the year.

Wasps’ boss saw off both his Premiership title rivals, Saracens’ Mark McCall and Exeter’s Rob Baxter, to scoop the prize. This was his first win and also the first occasion that the man in charge at Wasps has scooped the managerial honour.

Young has led Wasps to a top-of-the-table finish which delivers a home semi-final for the first time. The black-and-golds won 17 of their 22 matches, and were unbeaten at the Ricoh Arena.